Great River Energy bets on Minnesota wind while phasing out coal

US electric cooperative Great River Energy on Thursday unveiled plans to purchase over 1,100 MW of new wind by the end of 2023 and said its board has just okayed 600 MW of wind projects, mainly in Minnesota.

By late 2023, the company also plans to complete in Cambridge, Minnesota a 1-MW long-duration battery facility capable of delivering its rated power continuously for 150 hours. It will partner in the demonstration project with storage technology developer Form Energy. The idea is to use the system to maintain grid reliability during extreme conditions.

Great River Energy expects its renewable energy capacity to surpass 1,760 MW at end-2023, up from 660 MW today. Meanwhile, it will be phasing out remaining coal resources.

In the last few years, the company has reduced its reliance on coal-fired power significantly, by exiting a contract for electricity from a thermal power plant in Wisconsin and retiring the Stanton Station coal power station. Yesterday it said its next steps away from coal will involve the retiring of the 1,151-MW Coal Creek Station in the second half of 2022, and a transition to 100% natural gas at the Spiritwood Station power plant.

Great River Energy also plans to be adding energy and capacity as needed through upgrades of its fleet of natural gas peaking plants and purchases from the MISO energy market.

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